International Men

Scotland Looks to Build, Honor Fallen Teammate

Scotland at the end of the
2012 European Lacrosse Championships. Robert Hetherington (#4) died
in 2013 while serving in the British Army.

Coaches generally don't make guarantees prior to tournament
play, but Scotland head coach John Kenney isn't shy about making
one guarantee heading into the 2014 Federation of International
Lacrosse World Championship, presented by Trusted Choice.

"We'll have a bagpiper," said Kenney with a laugh.

Kenney, the longtime successful coach at Detroit Country Day
(Mich.) School, has coached Scotland since the 2008 European
Championships, and its seventh place showing at the 2010 World
Championship in Manchester, England, was a sign of its emerging
presence.

Scotland won its first five games to advance to the
quarterfinals against Australia, when the game was delayed by
lightning.

"We were getting beaten 11-2 when the game was stopped and all
through the delay we could hear the Australian team singing songs
in their dressing room," recalled Rory Marsden, who will be playing
in his second world championship this year. "When the game
restarted, we came out hard, and for 20 minutes we were on fire. We
scored the next seven goals to bring the game back to 11-9. In the
end, Australia eased out to a comfortable win, but for 20 minutes
the comeback was on and we were going to win our sixth game in a
row."

When Scotland opens play against Thailand on July 11, they'll do
so with one key member not on the sideline, but very much in their
hearts.

Robert Hetherington died in April 2013 while serving with the
Royal Regiment of Scotland of the British Army in Afghanistan.

"Bobby was one of my best friends," said Marsden. "We played
lacrosse together at Stirling University and for Scotland at the
European and World Championships in 2008, 2010 and 2012. He was the
most fun-loving, hard-working, determined and genuine person I have
ever known. He had an amazing ability to connect with people, build
friendships, trust and respect. He was an incredible leader and an
outstanding lacrosse player. Bobby was one of the captains in 2012
and was the best player on our team. He was an absolutely fearless
defender, he had great balance and power, could throw checks
without losing position and if there was a ground ball he was going
to win it. No attacker ever wanted a match-up with Bobby."

"On the field, he was one of the best d-poles in Europe," said
Kenney. "His death really hurt a lot of us. He was just a great
guy. We're going to try to honor his legacy."

Just prior to the championship's opening, one of Scotland's
players will be chosen to wear Hetherington's No. 4 jersey for the
tournament. It means a lot to the players. Marsden's Facebook
profile picture is a shot of a Scotland lacrosse helmet next to a
No. 4 jersey.

"Every time we step on the pitch now, we play for Bobby," said
Marsden. "He is still part of our team and inspires us to work a
bit harder, play a bit smarter and give a bit more for the team and
the players around us. He might not be here in person, but you can
bet he will be right there on the pitch with us."

Scotland has been building for this championship for a long
time, and Marsden points to Kenney and Keith Robertson, Scotland's
assistant coach and performance director, for much of the
credit.

"When I started playing lacrosse in Scotland, games were a
string of ground ball battles where occasionally the ball would go
in the goal," he said. "Now you can turn up to any match in the
Scottish Lacrosse League and see good quality lacrosse being played
by strong athletes, with good fundamental skills and great lacrosse
IQ. It has been a herculean task."

For the last five or six years, Scotland has welcomed visiting
colleges to the country each June. Last fall, the Scots came to the
U.S. and scrimmaged C.W. Post, Adelphi and Stony Brook. Robertson
and Kenney have done everything they can to work through the
obstacles of limited youth leagues and only five universities with
lacrosse programs.

But the rewards have been worth it.

"It has been the most enjoyable coaching experience I've ever
had," said Kenney, who won nearly 400 games as a high school coach
and had four sons play NCAA Division I lacrosse. "The willingness
of the players that have come to the game late in life and their
pure unadulterated love for the game of lacrosse is inspiring.
There's no college scholarship. There's no expectations of playing
time issues; just a real love for the game."

Marsden's love for the game is evident as he thinks about the
upcoming world championship.

"I am expecting a lot from this world championships, both from
the event itself and from our performance," said Marsden. "The guys
who went to the '98 championships in Baltimore rave about how good
it was. With this being the first world championships back in the
USA since then I can't wait to see what it's going to be like.
We're bringing the Tartan Army, so look out for some big crowds and
a great atmosphere around the Scotland games."

The 2014 FIL World Championships are just around the corner
- taking place from June 10-19 in Commerce City, Colorado. Be sure
to catch all the action as the best in the world convene in the
shadow of the Rocky Mountains - tickets
available for all dates.